Cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

A cleaning apparatus includes a carrying handle and a collector. The collector has a hollow shell pivoted to the carrying handle, and a spade connected to the hollow shell and defining with the hollow shell a dust collecting open chamber. The spade has a leading edge and a V-shaped cut inwardly extending from a middle of the leading edge. By means of the V-shaped cut, the user can use the spade to pick up waste matters from the ground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to cleaning apparatus and more particularly, to a simple structure of cleaning apparatus that can be conveniently operated to pick up waste matters from the ground and to pour out collected waste matters.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 7 shows a conventional cleaning apparatus 70, which comprises a first handle 72, a second handle 71 pivotally supported on the top side of the first handle 72, a first hollow shell 74 fixedly provided at the bottom side of the first handle 72, a second hollow shell 73 fixedly provided at the bottom side of the second handle 71, an operating handle 75 pivoted to the first handle 72, and a cover 76 connected to the operating handle 75 through a link and adapted to close the first hollow shell 74. After the user attach the first hollow shell 74 to the ground, the user can bias the second handle 71 to force the second hollow shell 73 to push waste matters 80 away from the ground into the first hollow shell 74. When carried the cleaning apparatus 70 to the garbage-can, the user can operate the operating handle 75 to open the cover 76 from the first hollow shell 74 so that collected waste matters 80 can be poured out of the first hollow shell 74 to the garbage-can.

The aforesaid cleaning apparatus 70 is functional. However, because the cleaning apparatus 70 uses three parts pivoted to one another, the structure of the cleaning apparatus 70 is complicated, resulting in a high manufacturing cost. Further, when picking up waste matters or pouring out collected waste matters, the user must apply a force to the second handle 71 and the operating handle 75. This design is not convenient to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a cleaning apparatus, which can be conveniently operated to pick up waste matters from the ground and to pour out collected waste matters.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a cleaning apparatus, which has a simple structure and is inexpensive to manufacture.

To achieve these objectives of the present invention, the cleaning apparatus comprises a carrying handle and a collector. The collector has a hollow shell pivoted to the carrying handle, and a spade connected to the hollow shell and defining with the hollow shell a dust collecting open chamber. The spade has a leading edge provided with a cut. By means of the cut, the user can use the spade to pick up waste matters from the ground.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cut is V-shaped and extends inwardly from a middle of the leading edge. The V-shaped cut defines a front open end, a rear closing end and two lateral sides respectively defining a first bevel edge which has an end terminating at the rear closing end. The spade further has two second bevel edges respectively formed on the leading edge thereof at two sides of the front open end of the V-shaped cut and respectively connected to the other ends of the first bevel edges.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a cleaning apparatus in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective assembly view of the cleaning apparatus according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing showing the use of the cleaning apparatus according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing showing another status of use of the cleaning apparatus according to the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective assembly view of a cleaning apparatus in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective assembly view of a cleaning apparatus in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention, and

FIG. 7 is a side view of a conventional cleaning apparatus according to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cleaning apparatus 10 in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a carrying handle 20 and a collector 30.

The carrying handle 20 has a grip 22 for carrying by hand, and two extension arms 24 at two sides of the grip 22. The extension arms 24 are angled arms, each having one end integrally connected to the grip 22 and the other end provided with a lug 242.

The collector 30 comprises a hollow shell 32 and a spade 34. The spade 34 is peripherally connected to the hollow shell 32, defining with the hollow shell 32 a dust collecting open chamber 36. The hollow shell 32 has two pivot pins 322 symmetrically outwardly extended from two opposite lateral sides thereof and respectively coupled to the lugs 242 of the extension arms 24 of the carrying handle 20 so that the collector 30 can be biased relative to the carrying handle 20. The spade 34 has the leading edge thereof protruding over the leading edge of the hollow shell 32. The spade 34 has a V-shaped cut 38 inwardly extending from a middle of the leading edge, defining a front open end 382, a rear closing end 384, and two beveled lateral sides 386 defining two first bevel edges 342 each having one end terminating at the closing end 384. The spade 34 further has two second bevel edges 344 formed on the leading edge at two sides of the V-shaped cut 38. The two second bevel edges 344 each have one end respectively connected to the respective front end of the first bevel edges 342. The spade 34 further has a plurality of reinforcing ribs 346 protruded from the top side wall thereof at two sides of the V-shaped cut 38. The ribs 346 extend to the second bevel edges 344 and are arranged in parallel at an equal pitch at two sides of the V-shaped cut 38 to reinforce the structural strength of the spade 34 and to facilitate collection of waste matters from the ground by the spade 34. Further, an elongated stop block 348 is formed integral with the top side wall of the spade 34 behind the V-shaped cut 38.

Referring to FIG. 3, when using the cleaning apparatus to pick up waste matter, for example, a pet's stool 40 from the ground, carry the carrying handle 20 with one single hand to have the bottom side of the collector 30 be stopped at the ground and then to bias the collector 30 so as to attach the spade 34 closely to the ground with the open end 382 of the V-shaped cut 38 aimed at the stool 40, and then drag the carrying handle 20 to move the open end 382 of the V-shaped cut 38 over the bottom side of the stool 40 for enabling the stool 40 to be moved away from the ground by the first bevel edges 342, second bevel edges 344 and ribs 346 of the spade 34. When the stool 40 is moved to about one half position in spade 34, as shown in FIG. 3, lift the carrying handle 20. At this time, the collector 30 is turned downwards by its gravity weight, as shown in FIG. 4, and the stool immediately falls from the spade 34 to the inside of the dust collecting open chamber 36, and therefore the cleaning action is completed. When wishing to pour the stool 40 out of the cleaning apparatus, aim the open side of the cleaning apparatus at the garbage-can and then bias the collector 30 for enabling the stool 40 to fall out of the collector 30 to the garbage-can. Further, in case non-solid waste matter or fluid waste matter is collected in the cleaning apparatus, the elongated stop block 348 stops waste fluid from flowing out of the dust collecting open chamber 36.

FIG. 5 illustrates a cleaning apparatus in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention. According to this second embodiment, the cleaning apparatus 50 has a stick 52 connected to the carrying handle 54 thereof. Thus, the user can directly hold the stick 52 with the hand to have the spade 56 be closely attached to the ground when picking up waste matters from the ground.

A cleaning apparatus according to either of the aforesaid two embodiments uses the design of two pivoted members and a V-shaped cut on one of the pivoted members to pick up waste matters from the ground conveniently and rapidly, enabling collected waste matters to be conveniently poured to a garbage-can. Because of simple structural design, the cleaning apparatus is easy and inexpensive to manufacture.

FIG. 6 illustrates a cleaning apparatus in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the cleaning apparatus 60 is made in the form of a dustpan, having a spade (or pan) 64, a wall 62 perpendicularly extending around the border of the spade 64 and defining with the spade 64 a dust collecting open chamber 68, and a handle 66 fixedly connected to the wall 62.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A cleaning apparatus comprising: a carrying handle; and a collector having a hollow shell pivoted to the carrying handle, and a spade connected to the hollow shell and defining with the hollow shell a dust collecting open chamber, the spade having a leading edge with a cut.
 2. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cut of the spade extends inwardly from the leading edge of the spade and defines a front open end, a rear closing end and two lateral sides.
 3. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the two lateral sides define respectively a first bevel edge which has an end terminating at the rear closing end.
 4. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spade has two second bevel edges respectively formed on the leading edge thereof at two sides of the cut and respectively connected to the other ends of said first bevel edges.
 5. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spade has a plurality of reinforcing ribs formed on a top side wall thereof at two sides of said cut.
 6. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said spade further has a stop block formed on the top side wall thereof for stopping waste matters from falling out of said dust collecting open chamber.
 7. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a stick connected to said carrying handle for holding by the user.
 8. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carrying handle has two lugs symmetrically disposed at two sides; said hollow shell has two pivot pins symmetrically disposed at two sides and respectively pivoted to the lugs of said carrying handle.
 9. A cleaning apparatus comprising: a stick; and a collector having a spade and a wall perpendicularly extending around the spade and defining with the spade a dust collecting open chamber, the wall being fixedly connected to the stick; wherein the spade has a leading edge with a cut.
 10. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cut of the spade extends inwardly from the leading edge of the spade and defines a front open end, a rear closing end and two lateral sides.
 11. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the two lateral sides define respectively a first bevel edge which has an end terminating at the rear closing end.
 12. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the spade has two second bevel edges respectively formed on the leading edge thereof at two sides of the cut and respectively connected to the other ends of said first bevel edges.
 13. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said spade has a plurality of reinforcing ribs formed on a top side wall thereof at two sides of said cut.
 14. The cleaning apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said spade further has a stop block formed on the top side wall thereof for stopping waste matters from falling out of said dust collecting open chamber. 